Top 5 To Watch - Cheltenham Festival
Over the next week, the best National Hunt horses will compete at Cheltenham Racecourse over 27 races. This post will look at the five horses to watch out for over the course of the festival.
1 :
Simonsig (Arkle Trophy - Tuesday) The Nicky Henderson trained 7 year old already has a festival win to his name, winning the Neptune Investment hurdle last year. Only suffering one defeat in his rules career (defeated by Fingal bay in his third rules race), the talented two miler is only getting stronger with age. The main talking point of the first day will be the duel between Simonsig and Donald McCain's Overturn in what should be a cracking battle.
2:
Hurricane Fly (Champion Hurdle - Tuesday) The Irish trained horse suffered a shock defeat last year in this very race, being beaten into third by Rock On Ruby and Overturn. While Rock on Ruby provides the main opposition in this race once again, Overturn goes for the Arkle Trophy instead. Rock on Ruby has also suffered a stuttering start to the season, while Hurricane Fly is firing on all cylinders and looks to be the one to beat.
3:
Sprinter Sacre (Queen Mother Champion Chase - Wednesday) The big race on the Wednesday of the meeting will see Sprinter Sacre try and continue his dominance over the two mile chases. The 7 year old has been in scintillating form over the last year, and this year will battle it out with possible challengers including Cue Card, Sizing Europe and Sanctuaire for the biggest trophy available on the Wednesday.
4:
Quevega (Mares' Hurdle/World Hurdle - Tuesday/Thursday) The Irish mare has already won the Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a remarkable four times, and looks set to go for her fifth shot at the prize on the Tuesday of the festival. However, were she to win that race comfortably, then connections may look to race her in a now Big Bucks-less World Hurdle on the Thursday. She is classy enough to win the big hurdling race of the Festival, and this looks to be her best chance to win it with Big Bucks not in the race this year.
5:
Silviniaco Conti (Gold Cup - Friday) The Cheltenham Gold Cup is one of the biggest crowns in the full racing calendar, and this year looks to be the most open Gold Cup in a while. Paul Nicholls trains this seven year old stayer and as a horse that acts on the soft ground that is predicted, Silviniaco Conti looks to be a top class challenger for the Gold Cup prize.
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